Railway car



Nov. l2, 1935. v`. wlLLoUGl-IBY 2,020,863

RAILWAY CAR I Filed June 5, '1933 4 sheets-sheet 1 lv .wm Ov n @w @W .nlH'P'IHHHHU @:IMMIIIL O .G ||||I||M||N|1 ||r| 1| |H |1|||If |||l||||ww..O.::: O ./wu MMMWNIIIMHHJMUMHHIIIIH .--1 All INHHAHHHMMUN i |L |Fx|1||x 1 l l l 1 l l I l l l l Il A. .I Tllllurlllllll i M@ mx m r |IIH.I| liQ` ,wlwVMu/WUMIIIIHUHUH nl|H|||1||ll||l|n l/J//HWL h//l .I o o mq\//f//m Q wf/ 7 l il l//l//Hl. .U |||.|IWI|.IW l O o @W\\ o b ,/,f/WLVHVVMIQ 4|1||\||l| o o O o o o o .w o O d l I I I O .0 o b o ilooeoooooooo o 11 HAI O ,w l -mw M 1 N\ L ll Il I l l I I l l l l l l lIl 7 i| -l|1 ff.4 I L 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 V. WILLOUGHBY RAILWAY CAR FiledJune 5, 1953 Nov. l2, 1935.

Nov.` l2, 1935. v, wlLLouGl-IBY RAILWAY CAR Filed June 5, 1955 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Q INVENTOR Vzctor WZZZOug/vby A ITORNE Y Nov. 12,' 1935.

v. wlLLoUGHBY RAILWAY CAR Filed June 3, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @Si me w vINVENTOR Victor4 Wz'ZZoag/rby A TTORNEY Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE RAILWAY CAR Application June 3, 1933, Serial No.674,156

11 claims.

This invention relates generally to railway hopper cars and hasparticular reference to hopper doors or gates and mounting and operatingmeans therefor.

One object of this invention is the provision of a hopper car havingmeans by which the hoppers may be quickly and tightly closed in such amanner as to prevent the loss of lading particularly very fine drycommodities such as ne coal, grain or cement.

Another object of this invention is the pro-Y Vision of a railway hoppercar having a door or a gate for closing the hopper and simple and quickoperating means for shifting the door to either open or closed position.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of new andimproved means for actuating the gate or door of a hopper.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a new andimproved railway hopper car.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a new andimproved hopper door and operator therefor which is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and which is strong and durable in operation.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which; A

Figure l is a transverse vertical sectional View through a hopper car ofthe present invention, a portion of the view showing a section throughthe car at the bolster; the View showing a pair of ,i hoppers with thedoor or gate of one thereof in partially open position, the view alsoshowing, in dotted lines, this particular door in fully open position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the lower end portion ofone of the hoppers;

Figure 3 is a sectional View on the line 3 3, Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4 4, Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the door support and door and theoperating means for the latter, a portion of the gure being shown insection and other parts being broken away to more fully disclose thedetails;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail View of a portion of the hopper and.the door operating means;

the door being in partially open position;

Figure 7 is a sectional view through the lower portion of a hoppershowing a modified form of the invention;

Figure 8 is a front elevation of the modification shown in Figure 7, and

Figure 9 is a sectional view on the line 9 9, Figure 7.

Referring now more particulaily to the draw- 5 ings in which similarcharacters of reference designate similar parts in the several views,the car of the present invention comprises a body including side walls2, a center sill 4 and bolsters 6. The side walls and bolster may be ofany prel0 ferred or desired construction and the center sill, in theinstance shown, comprises a pair of channels connected by top coverplate l. Arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line ofthe car body are hoppers indicated generally 15 at H, the inner walls 8of which depend substantially vertically from the respective channels ofthe center sill as shown clearly in Figure 1. The hoppers H also includeouter walls I0 and side walls I2.

` of the several walls of the hoppers it is apparent that the load isdischarged between the track rails.`

The present invention is designed to provide means which can be quicklyand easily operated 25 to provide a tight closure for the discharge endor outlet of each hopper. Inasmuch as the means are identical for eachhopper a description of one will suffice for all. As clearly shown inthe drawings the means for closing the discharge 30 end of the hoppercomprises, in the main, a door frame casting indicated generally as Aand a door or gate indicated generally as B, the door B being 'slidablerelative to the frame A and having a door operating device mountedthereon as more specifically described hereinafter.

' The door frame A comprises a casting and is preferably of the formshown more clearly in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 wherein it can be seen thatthe casting is generally of rectangular shape to t 40 around the loweredge portions of the hopper walls. As shown in Figure 2 the rear portionI4 of the door frame casting A is substantially vertical and restsagainst the inner wall 8 of the hopper at the lower edge portion of thelatter. The side and front portions of the frame A have attachingportions I6 inclined in accordance with the slope of the front and sideWalls of the hopper and rest ing against the latter; said door framebeing welded as at I8, or otherwise suitably secured to said hopperwalls. The remainder of the side and end portions of the frame A dependvertically below the lower edge portions of the hopper Walls and areindicated in the drawings at Due to the specific arrangement 20` 26 andhave secured Vthereto suitable flexible gaskets 22 by means of retainerstrips V24 and fasteners 26; the gaskets 22 engaging the upper surfaceof the gate or door B as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4 to furnish aseal to prevent leakage. Y

Formed with the side portions of the frame A are inwardly facing channelshaped tracks Vor guides V28 which support the gate B for slidingmovement as presently to be described.

The gate B comprises a main or body portion 30 having its side edgeportions upwardly and then outwardly iianged as shown at 32 ,and 34respectively; the side edge portions of the gate B thus being offsetyand,l as clearly shown in the drawings, particularly Figs. 3 and 4,arranged within the channel shaped tracks or guides 28. Supported by thevertical iianges 32 of the gate B and by bearing members 36 dependingfrom the outwardly projecting or horizontal flanges 34 are axles 38supported by rollers 46 mounted on the inwardly extending lower flanges42 of the tracks'28 and shiftable thereon for opening and closing thedoor B". In the instance shown in Figs. 2 and 5, three rollers 49 areprovided along opposite sides of the gate B but this is merely by way ofexample as obviously the number of supporting rollers may be varied inaccordance with requirements. y

The tracks 28 extend outwardly` beyond the hopper (see Fig. 5) in orderto support and guide the gate or door B to its fully open position and atransversely arranged tie 44 is provided .Y beneath the forward endportion ofthe door frame casting A and preferably, though notnecessarily, is formed integral with said casting .and serves as anabutment with which a stop 46 secured to the lower surface of the doorat its i. forward end portion is adapted to contact to limit the extentof opening movementV of the door. The tie 44 is provided with angleshaped lugs 48 for supporting the metal frame 5U of a` detachableflexible discharge: boot 5,2. The boot 52 is secured in position forreceiving material from the hopperY when the door B is in fully openposition by means of clamps 54 supported onv bolts 56 carried by lugs 58projecting from the tracks 28 as'clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. i Inthe form of the invention shown in Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive, the door B isof greater length than the length'of the hopper at its dischargeY endand its projecting portion, indicated at 60 provides .a support for thedoor operator, the latf ter comprising a jack screw 62 threadedlyengaged in a nut 64 pivotally supported by trunnions 66 in spacedbrackets 68 secured to the projecting portion 6I) of the door B by meansof suitable fasteners lil. The rear end portion of theV crates when thejack screw is rotated in a-direction such as to force the door Vtoclosed position. 'I'he reduced portion i4 .also provides a shoulder 82adapted to engage the outer surface of lug 80 when the jack screw isrotated in a direction such as to open the door.

Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive disclose a modication of the construction justdescribed. The door frame casting, indicated generally at F, is soformed as to be fitted around the several walls of the hoplatter havinga plurality of depending bearing elements 89 inV which :axles 9| aresupported, the axles extending through the rollers 93 which are mountedfor shifting movement on inturned anges 95 forming parts ofthe trackmembers 85. At the forward end portion the frame F is provided with anabutment 91 against which a jack screw 99 abuts;V the latter beingthreadedly engaged in a nut IUI riveted as at |03 to the proh-V jectingportion 165 of the gate G, In the instance shown in Figs. 7 `to 9inclusive movement ofY the jack screw 99 in one direction causes anoutward shifting oi the gate G because of the abutting engagement of thescrew 99 with the abutment 92'. the door or gate G is not aided in itsclosing movement by the jack screw 99 but must be manually forced tofully closed position. Y

In the construction shown in the remainder of the figures of thedrawings, with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2, it is apparentthat oper-V ation of the jack screw in one direction will cause theshoulder 82 to act against the lug 86 and eifect an outward movement ofthe gate or door B. When the screw has reached the limit of itsmovement, it is freed from its engagement with the lug V8l) by beingturned in thebrackets 68 to the position shownin Fig. 6 whereupon thedoor may be fully openedvby being forcibly and manually shifted on itsrollers` 40 until the stop 46 contacts with the tie 44. In closin'g'thedoor.Y B the door is manually and forcibly urged'in` wardly until thehead 16 of the jack screw 62 may be engaged with the lug 80 whereuponVoperation of the said jack screw in the reverse di-A rection will causethe door to be moved to fully closed position. It isapparent, therefore,that while the jack screw 62 Vis a door actuator it is also a starter,rotation thereof causing the jack screw to cooperate withrthe door framein start-,- ing the door from closed to open position. In closing thedoor it is ,apparent that when the door has been shifted to a positionsuch that the jack In the instance shown in"Fig. l

screw may be engaged with the lug 80, rotation of the jack screw willeffect complete closing of the door.

From the description just above it is believed that the construction andoperation of the invention will be fuily apparent to those skilled inthe art without further elaboration. The drawings disclose certaihformsofthe invention, but it is door frame secured to thehopper and formedwith inwardly facing oppositely arranged tracks, a door adapted to closethe discharge end of the hopper and having a portion projecting outwardfrom the side of the hopper when the door is in closed position, rollerssupporting the door and arranged in said tracks, and door actuatingmeans supported on the projecting portion of the door and adapted tocooperate with the door frame upon operation thereof during a portion ofthe movement of the door in both opening and closing directions.

2. In a hopper car, closure means for the outlet of the hoppercomprising a door frame secured to the hopper walls and formed toprovide oppositely arranged inwardly facing tracks, a door for closingsaid hopper, rollers secured to the door and arranged in the tracks formovement thereon, said door being of such dimensions as to projectoutward from the side of the hopper when in fully closed position, anactuating member pivotally supported on the projecting portion of thedoor, and a bearing lug on the door frame with which said membercooperates during a por- -tion of the movement of the door in bothopening and closing directions.

3. Closure means for hoppers comprising a frame secured to the hopper atthe outlet end portion thereof, said frame being formed to provideoppositely arranged tracks, a door for closing the hopper having aportion projectingiin a horizontal plane, rollers for supporting thedoor arranged for movement on the tracks, and a jack screw pivotallymounted on the projecting portion of the door in such a position as todetachably engage the frame in such a manner that actuation of saidscrew will start the door in its opening movement.

4. In combination with a railway hopper car, a door frame secured to theoutlet portion of the hopper and provided with oppositely arranged trackmembers, a door having upwardly offset side edge portions arranged inthe track members, rollers connected to the door at the oiset portionsthereof and mounted in the track members, and door actuating meanssupported by the door including a pivotally mounted jack screwdetachably engaged with the door frame in such a manner as to cooperatetherewith upon rotation to actuate the door during a part of itsmovement in both the opening and closing directions thereof.

5. In a railway hopper car, means for closing the discharge end of thehopper, comprising a door frame, a door having a horizontally projectingportion, and means comprising a jack-screw pivotally supported on theprojecting portion of the door and adapted to cooperate with the doorframe to force the door to both closed and open positions.

6. In a railway hopper car, means for closing the discharge end of thehopper, comprising a door frame, a door slidably mounted in said frame,a bearing lug supported by the frame, and means for actuating the doorcomprising a jackscrew pivotally mounted on the door and provided at itsinner end with a pair of shoulders, one of said shoulders being adaptedto co-operate with said lug to move thedoor in one direction when thejack-screw is turned in one direction, and the other shoulder beingadapted to cooperate with said lug to move the door in the oppositedirection when the jack-screw is turned in the opposite direction.

'7. In a hopper car, closure means for the outlet of the hoppercomprising a door frame secured to the hopper walls and having inwardlyfacing tracks formed integral therewith, a door for closing said hopper,rollers secured to the door and arranged in the tracks for movementthereon,

said door being so formed as to project outwardl from the side of thehopper when in fully closed position, an actuating member supported bythe projecting portion of the door, and a bearing lug on the door framewith which the forward end portion of said member cooperates during aportion of the movement of the door in both opening and closingdirections.

8. In a combination with a railway hopper car, a door frame secured tothe outlet portion of the hopper and having integrally formed trackmem.- bers, a door for closing said hopperr so formed as to provide asupporting portionv projecting horizontally therefrom when the door isin fully closed position, iieXible sealing means secured to the innersurface of the door frame and arranged to cooperate with the door toseal the hopper against leakage, rollers supporting said door arrangedfor movement on the track members, and door actuating means pivotallymounted on the projecting supporting portion of the door and `detachablyengaged with the door frame, said actuating means being operative toshift the door relative to the track members during a portion of themovement of said door in both the opening and closing directions.

9. In combination with a railway car havinga hopper, of means forclosing the hopper cornprising a door frame secured 'to the outlet endportion of the hopper and formed to provide oppositely arranged channelshaped track members, a door for closing the hopper discharge endtravelling in said track members and of greater length than the hopperdischarge end and projecting outward from the same when in its closedposition, and a jack screw mounted on the projecting portion of saiddoor and adapted to engage the door frame to cause a relative movementof parts upon rotation.

10. Closure means for hoppers comprising a frame secured to the hopperat the outletl end portion thereof, said frame being formed to provideoppositely arranged tracks, a door for closing the hopper, said doorbeing of greater length than the'hopper outlet whereby a portion thereofprojects beyond the hopper when the door is in closed position, rollersfor supporting the door arranged for movement on the tracks, and arotatable jack screw mounted on the projecting portion of the door insuch a position as to detachably engage the frame in such a manner thatactuation of said screw will start the door in its opening movement.

1l. In a railway hopper car, means for closing the discharge end of thehopper comprising a door frame, a door slidable in said frame and of agreater length than the discharge end of the hopper whereby a portion'thereof projects beyond the hopper when the door is in closed position,and means comprising a jack screw pivotally supported on the door andadapted to cooperate with the door frame to force the door to bothclosed and open positions.

VICTOR W'ILLOUGHBY.

